Dr. Christian Bruckner

 

 

Research

My actual studies are embedded in the joint research project MIMAS (Microbial Interactions in MArine Systems) and focused on pelagic redoxclines located in the central Baltic Sea. These redoxclines describe the transition zone, where the environment passes over from anoxic conditions in deeper water layers to oxic conditions in upper water layers.

These anoxic zones are characterized by hydrogen sulfide diffusing upwards and are also known as "marine dead-zones", where no higher life is possible. Due to the anthropogenic impact (agriculture, climate change) these areas grow. On its way upwards the hydrogen sulfide disappears at the so called chemocline (Fig.1). It is thought to be neutralized by chemical as well as by biological processes.

Fig.1: Typical hydrogen sulfide (A) and oxygen (B) profiles from pelagic redoxclines in the Baltic Sea.

Within an overall approach I'm using extensive metagenomic raw data to construct a map of metabolic pathways that are thought to play an important role in the biological detoxification process. Therefore samples from sulfidic, suboxic and interface-conditions will be compared. The resulting genomic data are linked to chemical profiles from these areas.

In a second approach metaproteomic studies follow to differentiate between the genomic potential of the bacteria and their real physiological role in certain water layers. Also unknown proteins involved in interesting microbial processes around the chemocline can be preliminary characterized this way, especially by linking environmental datasets to results from cultivation based studies (Fig.2). One of the microbial key-players used for such studies is Sulfurimonas strain GD1, isolated from a Gotland Deep chemocline. Please follow this link for further details.

Fig.2: (A): Protein gel from Sulfurimonas strain GD1, grown on substrates relevant at the chemocline; (B) Bacteria from a pelagic chemocline in the Baltic Sea harvested by filtration.

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Career

Since 2009: Post-Doc position at the Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Department of Biological Oceanography, Microbial and Molecular Ecology;

2006 - 2008: PhD-thesis at the University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Plant Eco-physiology; Title: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria from phototrophic Biofilms of the littoral Zone of Lake Constance;

2001 - 2005: Study of biology at the University of Konstanz; Diplom (MSc) - Thesis at the Department of Biology, Plant Eco-physiology; Title: Characterization of Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria in Biofilms of the littoral Zone of Lake Constance;

 

Peer Reviewed Publications

Bruckner, C. G, Rehm, C., Grossart, H.-P. & Kroth, P. G. 2011. Growth and Release of extracellular organic Compounds by benthic Diatoms depend on Interactions with Bacteria. Environ. Microbiol. 13(4): 1052-1063   

Bruckner, C. G. & Kroth, P. G. 2009. Protocols for the Removal of Bacteria from benthic Diatoms. J. Phycol. 45: 981-986 

Bruckner, C. G., Bahulikar, R., Rahalkar, M., Schink, B. & Kroth, P. G. 2008. Bacteria associated with benthic Diatoms from Lake Constance: Phylogeny and Influences on Diatom Growth and EPS Secretion. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 47(24): 7740-7749

 

Selected Presentations

Bruckner, C. G. Grossart, H.-P. & Kroth, P. G.: “Metaomics”: the Future of microbial Ecology?  Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department of Shallow Lakes and Lowland Rivers, Neuglobsow, Stechlin, Germany (2010);

Bruckner, C.G.:“Any more Nitrogen and Sulfur for Breakfast?” Insights into the magic World of Bacteria. Public relations event: Long Night of the Sciences, Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock (2010) (title translated from German)

Bruckner, C. G., Grossart, H.-P. & Kroth, P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria during Biofilm Formation. Symposium: The Role of Littoral Processes in Lake Ecology, Hegne (2010);

Bruckner, C. G., Labrenz, M., Schott, T., Grote, J. & Jürgens, K.: The Epsilonproteobacterium Sulfurimonas GD1: Thisosulfate Disproportionation, Denitrification and potential Relevance for Baltic Sea Redoxclines. Institute for Marine Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Greifswald (2009);

Bruckner, C. G., Grossart, H.-P. & Kroth, P.G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria during Biofilm Formation. 11th Symposium on Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Piran, Slovenia (2009);

Bruckner, C. G. & Kroth, P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria. 12th Scientific Meeting of the Phycology Section of the German Botanical Society, Wittenberg (2008);

Bruckner, C. G., & Kroth, P. G. Interactions between Diatoms and heterotrophic Bacteria from Biofilms of the littoral Zone of Lake Constance. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department of Shallow Lakes and Lowland Rivers, Neuglobsow, Stechlin, (2008);

Bruckner, C. G. & Kroth, P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and heterotrophic Bacteria from Biofilms of the littoral Zone of Lake Constance. Annual Conference of the German Limnological Society (DGL), Konstanz (2008);

Bruckner C. G., Bahulikar R. & Kroth P. G.: Interactions of Diatoms and Bacteria in Biofilms of the littoral Zone of Lake Constance. 11th Scientific Meeting of the Phycology Section of the German Botanical Society, Helgoland (2006);

Bruckner C. G., Bahulikar R. & Kroth P. G.: Interactions of Diatoms and Bacteria in Biofilms of the littoral Zone of Lake Constance. Photosynthesis Workshop, Freiburg (2006);

 

Selected Posters

Windler, M., Bruckner, C. G., & Kroth, P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria of phototrophic, epilithic Biofilms from Lake Constance. 4th Central European Diatom Meeting, Reichenau, Germany (2010);

Windler, M., Bruckner, C. G., Philipp, B. & Kroth, P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria of phototrophic, epilithic Biofilms from Lake Constance. Symposium: The Role of Littoral Processes in Lake Ecology, Hegne (2010);

Bruckner, C. G., Labrenz, M., Jost, G., Schott, T., Wylezich, C., Anderson, R., Feike, J., Glaubitz, S., Grote, J., Weber, F. & Jürgens, K.: Baltic Sea Redoxclines: a unique Model System for linking in situ and in vitro Studies. Gordon Research Conference: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, South Hadley, MA, USA (2009);

Windler, M., Bruckner, C. G., Buhmann, M. & Kroth, P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria of phototrophic epilithic Biofilms from Lake Constance. Botanical Congress: Plants for the Future, Leipzig (2009);

Bruckner C. G., Bahulikar R. & Kroth P. G.: Interactions between Diatoms and Bacteria: a Study on Epilithic Biofilms from Lake Constance. Botanical Congress: 125 years Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, Hamburg (2007);